Building-block



(No Model.) i

J. EQMEYENBERG.

BUILDING BLOCK.

Patented Ju1y'3o,'1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.l

JULIA E. MEYENBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,582, dated J' uly 30, 1895. I

l Application filed April 28, 1894.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIA E. MEYENBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago,'in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Building'Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to building-blocks; and it has for its object to effect certain improvements in building-blocks of that character which are employed iu the construction of door-arches, ceilings, roofs, and also inall forms of partition and other walls where great lateral strength is necessary.

To this end the main and primary object of .the invention is to provide an improved build in g-block possessing exceptional strength and durability, and particularly adapted for the uses noted, while at the same time being tireproof in its character.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional pern spective view-of a door or ceiling arch pro- -Vided with my improved building blocks or bricks. Fig. 2 is a plan view and projected end elevation of a building-block constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of one of the blocks or bricks. l

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a building block or brick made of any composition or mineral material, clay, or metal, but is preferably formed of a suitable composition or clay material from which fireproof building or similar bricks are usually made. The block A is molded in substantially rectangular form in lengths suitable for the particular use thereof, and is usually molded hollow to reduce the weight, while at the same time not aifecting its strength and durability, and when such block is molded or cast hollow an interior arched truss-frame B is molded into the ,top and sides of the blockbody to reinforce the strength thereof, and this truss-frame is usually made of wire-netting or expanded metal, and is either curved Serial No. 509,352. (No model.)

throughout its entire length, and thereby greatly increase the durability thereof.

As illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, the building-blocks A are arranged interlocked with each other to form a horizontal floor or ceiling arch between the Hoor beams or girders X; but it will, of course, be understood that these blocks may be adapted for use in either flat or segmental floor, ceiling, or roof arches, and other similar constructions requiring great lateral strength. Each ofthe hollow building-blocks A, shown as interlocked with each other, may be arranged so as to break joints, but are preferably arranged so that their end joints will be on the same transverse line Y, shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, which will form a substantial cross brace o'r strut to the arch between the beams X, and thereby assist greatly in strengthening the arch formed by the b locks.

The hollow rectangular building-blocks A are provided on the opposite sides thereof with alternate parallel straight tongues and grooves C and D, extending the full width of` the block from the top to the bottom, and adapted to interlock with the adjacent tongues and grooves of the building-block tted alongside of the same when the blocks are assembled, as illustrated, and these interlocking tongues and grooves serve to securely lock the assembled blocks together and act in the capacity of keys, wedging fast under any strain unevenly distributed on the blocks. The

building-blocks A-are furtherprovided with the beveled ends E, inclined in the same direction,and one of which ends is provided with au inclined end locking-groove F, and the other end of which is provided with a projected inclined end locking-tongue G, adapted to interlock with or register in the end grooveF of the next adjacent building-block, arranged in alignment therewith, and, although only one groove and tongue is illustrated as being located at the end of each building-block, it will, of course, be understood that one or more of these end tongues and grooves may be roo formed on each building-block, according to the size thereof.

It has already been observed that the construction of the building-blocks provide for an interlocking thereof, and the specific manner of interlocking the sides of the blocks prevents a tendency of the blocks to move downward, and provides means whereby every block is securely locked to those immediately surrounding it, thus causing the strain which maybe placed on one block to be distributed to the other adjacent blocks in case of such strain being unevenly placed on any one block., It will also be noticed that the beveled ends of the block subserve an important function, in that, in the event of any positive central or downward strain being placed on a block, the beveled end joints have the tendency to tip or cant the block lengthwise, thereby causing the side tongues to bite or Vcramp in the grooves I), and cause the entire series of assembled blocks to be securely braced and prevented from beingdisplaced.'4

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described building blocks having beveled ends, side interlocking alter nate tongues and grooves, and interlocking inclined end tongues and grooves at the beveled ends, substantially as set forth.

2. A hollow building block provided with rows of alternate tongues and grooves on opposite sides and extending from end to end thereof, beveled ends, and a projected incli ned end tongue and inclined groove at the opposite beveled ends, all of said tongues and grooves being ofthe saine length as the width of the block, substantially as set forth. l

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JULIA E. MEYENBERG. Witnesses:

T. P. MEYENBERG, B. P. HooMns. 

